Catalog Archive
Auction 130, Lot 75

"Americae nova Tabula", Blaeu, Willem

Subject: Western Hemisphere

Period: 1633 (published)

Publication: Warhafftige Beschreibung aller denckwurdigsten Geschichten

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.4 x 14.2 inches
46.7 x 36.1 cm
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This is a rare edition of Blaeu's great map of the Americas from Emmanuel van Meteren's history of the Netherlands. The surrounding panels were masked during printing so the map would fit the small format. This is one of the few maps of the Americas by this famous Dutch cartographer. It is similar to Blaeu's wall map of 1608 with the additional discoveries of Henry Hudson and Tierra del Fuego with Le Maire Strait. An inset in North America shows Greenland, Iceland, the Davis Strait, and the mythical island of Frislandia. Even without the carte-a-figures panels, it is a fine example of the fine art of decorative cartography with sailing ships and sea monsters filling the oceans and a bold strapwork title cartouche.

References: Burden #189.

Condition: A

There is some minor toning, mostly in the blank margins.

Estimate: $2,750 - $3,500

Sold for: $2,000

Closed on 12/2/2009

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